Urban Meyer gives final game ball to high school student Ian Lockwood

The final game ball of Urban Meyer’s Florida career went to Ian Lockwood, a Navarre High School student who lost his football career to brain cancer.
Lockwood gave the team a speech at the Westin Harbor Island hotel before the game and was on the sideline during the Gators’ 37-24 win over Penn State in the Outback Bowl. Meyer brought him to podium in his post-game press conference to present the ball, which was the one Ahmad Black ran back for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“About a year and a half ago, I met Ian, a young man whose love and passion for football is second to none,” Meyer said. “We became very good friends. He had football taken away from him. He’s been with our team a bunch. I asked these guys to do whatever we could possibly do to get a game ball to Ian Lockwood. That meant you had to go four quarters as hard as you possibly can and find a way to bring that ball to brighten someone’s day.

“Ian, on behalf of Ahmad Black, our captain, our seniors, the University of Florida football team, the University of Florida as an institution, I’d like to present this game ball to you. We told you we’d do everything we possibly could to make this day a little better. What was our sole purpose to win this game? To get this game ball.”

Lockwood was a wide receiver at Navarre before undergoing surgery in October. He scored two touchdowns in his final game Oct. 8.

He has been getting treatment for the cancer at Shands Hospital in Gainesville.

Meyer invited Lockwood and his family to dinner at his home the night he announced his resignation from Florida.

Meyer gave the ball to Black, who handed it to Lockwood. Lockwood said, “It meant a lot to me,” and was overcome by emotions as his eyes welled with tears.

“I met Ian right around the same time Coach did, so he means just as much to me as he do to Coach,” Black said. “That was our goal and objective: to win the game for Ian.”

Linebacker Brandon Hicks added, “It’s very sincere. For a kid like that to have his heart set on playing football and him not getting a chance because of his brain tumor is something that hurts your heart. He just wants to be around. He just wants one snap. Just wants to put on the pads and helmet. Knowing he can’t do those things is heartbreaking.

“He’s a really good kid — heart in the right place. For us to give him the game ball, that meant a lot to us and it meant a whole lot to him.”

Trackbacks

[…] For non-pigskin fans, I should explain that some college teams traditionally give out helmet stickers for outstanding performances on the field, while others give out game balls. The best player does not always get the game ball, in fact it is not always a player who is awarded the honor. Coaches, owners and even people not directly associated with the team have been on the receiving end of the prestigious pass. […]